FEATURED AUTHOR

William Henry Stiebing, Jr.

Seraphia D. Leyda Teaching Professor of History Emeritus
University of New Orleans

William H. Stiebing, Jr., now a resident of Hot Springs, Arkansas, taught courses in ancient history and archaeology at U.N.O. for almost 38 years before his retirement at the end of 2005. He has participated in archaeological excavations in Jordan and Lebanon and has received university awards for outstanding teaching and for excellence in research. He and his wife love to travel, and he has been a guest lecturer for cruises by Celebrity, Cunard, Royal Caribbean, and Seabourn Cruise Lines.

Subjects: Archaeology, History

Biography

William Stiebing has always been interested in ancient history. After obtaining his B.A. degree in history from U.N.O. (then called Louisiana State University in New Orleans) in 1962, he received a fellowship from the Oriental Studies Department (Near Eastern section) at the University of Pennsylvania where he studied under such notable professors as Ephraim A. Speiser, Samuel N. Kramer and James B. Pritchard. He participated in archaeological excavations at Tell es-Sa’idiyeh in Jordan and Sarafand in Lebanon. After graduate school and marrying Ann Thompson, the love of his life, he returned to New Orleans to teach at U.N.O. In 1985 he was awarded the Louisiana State University Alumni Federation Distinguished Faculty Award for excellence in teaching. In 2001 he was named a Seraphia D. Leyda Teaching Professor in recognition of his outstanding teaching and in 2003 he received a University of New Orleans Award for career excellence in research.

Professor Stiebing frequently has presented public lectures on aspects of history, archaeology and biblical studies to groups in New Orleans, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Hot Springs and Hot Springs Village. He has also been a guest lecturer on Mediterranean and Caribbean cruises for Celebrity, Cunard, Royal Caribbean and Seabourn cruise lines. He is the author of many scholarly articles, book chapters and book reviews as well as four critically acclaimed books. Out of the Desert?: Archaeology and the Exodus/Conquest Narratives was selected by Choice magazine as one of the best scholarly books of 1989-90. Uncovering the Past: A History of Archaeology was chosen as a main selection of the Library of Science Book Club in 1993 and the first edition of Ancient Near Eastern History and Culture was an alternate selection of the Discovery Channel Book Club in June, 2004. In 2017 Routledge published the third edition of this last work with Susan N. Helft as co-author.

Education

Areas of Research / Professional Expertise

Syria, Palestine and the eastern Mediterranean world during the Late Bronze Age, Biblical Studies (especially the Old Testament)

Personal Interests

Books

Featured Title